ALCS Live Thread: Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox

10-12-07

[GraniteStateConservative]

Game 1 @ BOSTON:

WEATHER:: Forecasts for tonight predict that the rain will cease enough to get the game in, certainly. It should be cloudy, with temperatures dipping to the mid-50s.

Starting Pitchers

C. C. Sabathia (19-7, 3.21 ERA) vs. Josh Beckett (20-7, 3.27 ERA)

Game 1 LINEUPS

1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B
3. Travis Hafner, DH
4. Victor Martinez, C
5. Ryan Garko, 1B
6. Jhonny Peralta, SS
7. Kenny Lofton, LF
8. Franklin Gutierrez, RF
9. Casey Blake, 3B

1. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. Bobby Kielty, RF
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Coco Crisp, CF
9. Julio Lugo, SS

NOTES: This is the first time since the start of the three division era that the two LCS series have each matched the two best records in their league (96-66). Computer baseball sim Imagine Sports/Diamond Mind Baseball ran the 2007 ALCS 1,000 times, and the Red Sox won 59% of the time. If the Red Sox won game 1, they won the series 72.5% of the time, and if Cleveland won, the Indians won 59% of the time.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Sox fan and Indians national anthem singer Danielle Peck (and friend of Sugarland) says, "Go Sox!"

[misterrob]

He actually put the ball in play twice last night, once up the middle that the pitcher fielded otherwise it was a hit. However, he has been simply terrible at the plate. His inability to drop a bunt the other night is simply inexcusable as is the poor plate discipline and inability to hit a fastball.

If Jaboby does the job well tonight and the Sox force game 7 how do you put Crisp back in there? If Jacoby has a good game 7 then he and the term deserves to have him in the line up. Crisp can be the base stealer/defensive replacement.

[GraniteStateConservative]

J.D. Drew has quietly hit .313 (5-16) in the 2007 ALCS. Theo can be happy about that.

[GraniteStateConservative]

They talked to Indians personnel and they could barely recognize the ALCS Coco Crisp in comparison to the Cleveland Indian version. They said he just looked lost at the plate without any confidence. He hit with authority as an Indian.

[GraniteStateConservative]

The Red Sox are 4-0 all time in Game 6s in Fenway Park:

1918 WS (Sox, 2-1)
1967 WS (Sox, 8-4)
1975 WS (Sox, 7-6)
1986 ALCS (Sox, 10-4)

[misterrob]

In 2005 he hit .300 with 42 2Bs, 4 3Bs and 16 HRs. After he hurt his hand in 2006 he has never been the same guy. However, I don’t find him to be a very smart hitter and he doesn’t seem to listen to what his coaches tell him to do. The constant pop ups from that huge looping swing shows he’s trying to be a masher when that’s not his game. That swing leaves him with a slow bat through the zone. He needs to go the NL and start over.

[raccoonradio]

he has stolen a few bases and made some good catches but
offensively, an easy out, and is a disaster in this
post-season

[misterrob]

Have you read the book, The Boys of October?

[mylife]

OK.... Here we go! Game 6

[misterrob]

The dude cannot even lay down a bunt and he can’t lay off crap out of the zone. If he would get on base once a game and run wild I would consider that a plus.

[misterrob]

Good luck to your team tonight. Let’s hope that tonight is a game that makes both fans proud.

[misterrob]

Yo Coco, this is how you hold the bat on a bunt!

[La Enchiladita]

PLAY BALL!!!

[mylife]

Backatcha

[raccoonradio]

Best of luck to our respective teams.

A friend of mine lent me a book he has, 50 Years Of TV:
TV Guide and it had a huge picture of Carlton Fisk
“willing” his HR fair, 10/21/75 in game 6 of the World
Series vs. Cincy

Dick Stockton: There it is! If it stays fair...home run!
We will have a seventh and deciding game in this
1975 World Series...”

HR distance but a foul for Sizemore
Wedge argues. It looks pretty far to the right of
Pesky’s pole to me.

[mylife]

Hi Dita!

[big'ol_freeper]

I said to the wife after the first pitch. Schilling looks like he has nothing.

[GraniteStateConservative]

That was too close for comfort. Phew.

[mylife]

Here we go again L0L

[La Enchiladita]

Thanks for the line-ups, etc.